MinorityReport.ppt

Human Boundaries Multiple Time Paths Minority Report: the film and the novel Outline Starting Questions Sci-fi Films and Human Boundaries Ref. Two Theoretical Models on “posthuman” identities Philip K. Dick Minority Report Starting Questions What questions do recent sci-fi films ask? Are the boundaries between the human and the non-human still meaningful? Sci-fi Films I. Definition: A good science fiction story is a story about human beings, with a human problem, and a human solution, that would not have happened at all without its science content.“ (Theodore Sturgeon source) Alternative possible worlds as reflections on our present world. II. Kinds: Disaster films ? environmental issues Monster films Alien life forms Robots Mind and identity ? memory and social surveillance Time travel ? thru’ machines or in the mind Sci-fi films: Examples Disaster films: Armageddon (1998) The Day After Tomorrow (2004); Its All About Love (2003) Monster films: Jurassic Park(1993), King Kong (2005) Alien life forms: 70’s-80’s-1998 –Star Wars Star Trek; E.T. (1982); Alien (1986) Robots: Blade Runner (1982); Men in Black (1997), A.I.: Artificial Intelligence (2001); The Island (2005); I, Robot (2004) State, Mind, Machine and identity: Videodrome (1982); The Handmaid’s Tale (1990), The Net (1995), Gattaca (變種異煞1997), Enemy of the State (1998), The Matrix (1999), Vanilla Sky (2001); Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (2004) Time travel: Back to Future (1985) Sci-fi films: Recurrent Themes nostalgia for the past (e.g. the 50’s), pastiche of stereotypes -- Back to Future (1985) ; King Kong (2005). Father/Creator Complex, and parent-children relationship: Alien (1986), Blade Runner (1982); A.I.: Artificial Intelligence (2001); The Island (2005). Can be traced back to Frankenstein. State surveillance and dictatorship (through zoning, computer, video, implanted device and genetic manipulation, etc.) : Videodrome (1982); The Handmaid’s Tale (19